Communication Essay, Research Paper

Eye Safety at Work

Recently the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has undertaken new initiatives to diminish eye injuries at work.. OSHA has plans to set in motion a nationwide information campaign to decrease the over 1,000 eye injuries that occur in American workplace each year.

These eye injuries were caused often by flying or falling objects or sparks striking the eye. Contact with chemicals and objects such as tree limbs, ropes, chains, or tools were also major causes.

Nearly one million Americans have already lost some degree of sight to an eye injury. Luckily, 90 percent of all workplace eye injuries are preventable with the use of appropriate safety eyewear. Regardless of the good news, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that eye injuries in the workplace cost over $467 million annually. Each year some 100,000 of these will be disabling because of temporary or permanent vision loss.

A recent survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that three out of five workers who suffered an eye injury wore no protection. And, of those who did, 40 percent wore the incorrect kind.

You should wear safety eyewear whenever there is any likelihood that machines or operations present the hazard of flying objects, chemicals, harmful emission or a combination of these or other hazards. Anyone working in or passing through areas that pose eye hazards should wear appropriate protective eyewear at such times. For more information on eye safety in the workplace visit www.osha.org.